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Thank you!! Been trying and wish I did. Thanks!

@@LKRaider Thank you!

Thank you! ❤

That's interesting. An angled cut would allow water to run off, helping avoid rot-a common practice with wood posts, etc.-but I've never had an issue with a flatter cut. It would be hard to cut it flat enough to hold water anyway, but I can see it helping with drainage since the stem is usually starting to hollow out a bit by harvest time. As long as it doesn't make it too difficult to harvest and keep the number of leaves you want, I'd say, "Why not?" And broccoli leaves in soup sounds amazing! Great use of your produce!

Absolutely, thanks for the kind comment!

@@hopebradley1417 The experience of partnering with the earth and soil and your plants are both great teachers. All they require is an open mind and open heart. Good luck and don’t be too hard on yourself. We all started somewhere; we learn plenty of regular lessons; and we all have lots more we can learn, always. Thanks for the comment.

When he referred to that he did say ALASKA....

To be clear, like almost every other gardening source, when I refer to direct sunlight I am referring to unobstructed sunlight not direct solar beam radiation as opposed to diffuse radiation. If I were speaking of beam radiation and diffuse radiation and their amounts, I would use be speaking of solar irradiance (and it wouldn't likely be a gardening video) and use the terms Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI), and Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) and give measures of it W/m².

Thank you! Ha, yes, the challenges can seem like a lot sometimes. 🙃

You are very welcome. Yes, absolutely! Most end up much healthier (to the point where I've never had to use chemical or even organic pesticides--they can just defend themselves) but some much more than others (in order of difference: tomatoes, peppers, larger brassicas, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes....). Because it's so much work, however, I personally, have decided to only use it for tomatoes, peppers, larger brassicas, and their companions, since it's easy enough to find more space for things like beans and make up the production. I address all of this and a little more in "Double Digging's Tips, Tricks, and Finer Points" (th-cam.com/video/F7a9_sPNYJY/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/F7a9_sPNYJY/w-d-xo.html) and on my website here: greenthumbgardeningsecrets.com/double-diggings-finer-points/. Good luck!

Firstly, it’s “you’re” not “your” and it’s “means” not “mean.” If you’re going to leave judgy, exclamation-point-filled comments about someone else’s video, at least get your use of the possessive “your” and the non-possessive contraction of “you are” correct-glass houses and stones being what they are. Secondly, you’re obviously being a troll. You have no videos or posts of your own, but you chose to post ridiculous, off-topic negative comments on others’. Thirdly, for clarity, it's 100% true, and you are most certainly unclear as to what “direct sunlight” means in gardening. However, you raise an interesting point. Writers of gardening literature regularly define direct sunlight as light rays that hit plants’ foliage directly-as opposed to those that hit something that obstructs those direct rays first causing shade. They do this to clarify so aspiring gardeners do not put plants needing “full sun” in spots that are well-lit but completely shaded. Using this definition, they refer to needed hours of direct sunlight-from “full” shade (less than 2-3 hours), part sun/part shade (2-6 hours), and full sun (6+ hours). Increasingly, garden writers are describing vegetable plants as needing 8-10+ hours of direct sunlight and they’re correct, based on that definition. What you’re saying is that, astronomically speaking, direct sunlight is that which is not dispersed by clouds, haze, dust, smog, or just the smaller number of particles always present in the atmosphere when it enters at an oblique angle. Noted. However, that is not usually taken into the equation in gardening literature. Only a few sources even give the detail that hours of direct sunlight should include time from 10 am - 4 pm. I can see incorporating the astronomical definition as part of a more nuanced gardening definition helping. On the other hand, it’s hard enough to get people to not try to grow sun-loving plants in the shade. That said, if you’re not a troll, do a better job with your tone in comments. You question a video producer’s knowledge-even though it’s clearly a gardening video and the gardening definition is clear (look it up if you don’t already know; you’ll see), not an astronomy site-and use bitchy exclamation points to do so. While astronomically speaking, you’re correct, who cares? You have no videos of your own. Do you regularly waste time incorrectly picking out what you think are technical errors in other people’s videos? That’s a pedant, and when I see someone with no videos of their own who is so forthright about his criticism, I think troll. If you’re not, address it better next time, or leave it be. And if you’re going to criticize another video, get your grammar correct.

Thank you!

I know, right?! The fads have been crazy and even more nonsensical these days. A garden friend of mine sent me a popular fad-driven TH-cam clip recently, saying, "This is what's killing gardening." I welcome all-at least they're trying-but he also has a point. It's hard to see so many fail when success is so much easier and cheaper. That all said, you're quite welcome! Thanks for letting me know there are still people out there who are succeeding through observation, logic, and using long-successful methods.

Yeah, where you live is absolutely the exception to the rule, but it’s not the hours of sunlight. It’s the heat. For example, the northern part of the U.S. gets more hours of direct sunlight in the summer than you do, and no one there has to shade their crops. Instead, the weakest corn, soybeans, etc. are the ones on the edges of the field that are shaded by the trees. And don’t tell the rest of the folks north of you that or they’ll think they need to keep growing in only 4 hours of direct sun a day-and wonder why they’re failing. 😂 Plus, it’s not complete shade, right? I'm guessing you're using an Agribond-type fabric or something similar that still lets a decent percentage of direct sunlight through. Do you have to shade heat-loving crops like peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc. (being tropical or subtropical,l you'd think there'd be enough genetic heritage for someone to produce varieties that thrive in your heat), or just your cool season crops?

Great! Glad you like it! I was about to create a map like a topo map but with frost dates for the U.S. like I've seen for NC, so I was stoked to find the NOAA map! And then their interactive map is sick!!

Thanks, Mom!! ❤

I don't. I've never had the need. The square tines are strong, already come to a bit of a point, and dig in really well as is. I could maybe see the need if digging super hard clay, but we originally had that and the tines dug in just fine. Now, our soil is improving so much it just gets easier and easier. Now, a shovel on the other hand. I regularly sharpen those (but that's for work outside of the garden). Thanks for all of your comments! I appreciate you getting something out of and interacting with the video info!! 💯💚

Water's great too.

Thanks for letting me know it helped! I'm glad to hear it!

Exactly, that's a great example!

Yeah, that's a great point. I'm working on a short with a part about that right now. Because trees keep on growing, more buildings go up, neighbors put in fences, etc., even good spots lose their sun over time.

Thank you! If you do it that way, it pays you back (and then some usually).

Thank you! I'll work on it.

Thank you, Sir Gor

Thank you, Gretchen!!

Oooo, those are two tough ones. Like most persistent weeds, you have four options (none of which are mutually exclusive): dig/remove/weed, smother, use chemicals, and improve your soil. The short answer is that I'd 1) definitely get what I can while double digging and be really gentle with the roots so I'm careful to get every piece, 2) continue killing it with multiple strategies, and 3) work most diligently at improving my soil. Whatever you do needs to be done regularly, repeatedly, and over a long period of time (in the range of three to five years) because it takes multiple times to exhaust the extensive reserves of energy stored in the very large root systems. Bindweed roots are known to run 20 feet (6 meters) deep and 25 feet or more in breadth, being known to come up in neighboring fields and pastures. Horsetail roots routinely grow 6 feet deep. Plus, both have root systems that break rather easily and WILL REGROW NEW PLANTS FROM EVEN SMALL PIECES OF ROOTS LEFT IN THE SOIL. That's too large, too deep, and too far-reaching to be realistically removed by digging alone. You can dig or weed bindweed and cut horsetail stems to the ground regularly over a long period (3-5 years) to exhaust the root system and finally kill the plant. Be aware that horsetails will resprout even more vigorously at first, but vigilant removal of top growth will kill them eventually. Likely, don't hoe or till horseweed since it will cut the underground rhizomes and create more plants. If you do, weed out the new plants before they start creating rhizomes (within a few weeks). Broken pieces of bindweed root sprout above-ground growth again in a couple of weeks, so remove it every three weeks all season. Smothering also has to be done over a long period (two years or possibly more for horsetail) and over a large area. Otherwise, the vigorous horseweed rhizomes will grow to the edge of the smothering covering and put up tops there and the parts of the bindweed plant that remain outside of the garden plot will simply recolonize the bed after the smothering material is removed. If you're fine with using chemicals (just giving options), repeated applications of glyphosate will work on bindweed and horsetail; it often takes repeated applications to get enough herbicide into the root system to kill the whole thing. Again, stay vigilant and stay the course, and you'll eventually kill the entire root system. To avoid the drift of herbicide onto other plants, dabbers are available. If you can't find them, ask and I'll share at least one source. Breaking the horsetail stems with a rake first (or walking on them) has been found to help them absorb the herbicide. Finally, both bindweed and horsetail are also good indicators of soil conditions that are quite poor for vegetable plants and field crops. Horsetail indicates low pH, infertile, and poorly drained soil. Bindweed indicates compacted soil. Many report having the best luck control horseweed by improving their soil, making it increasingly inhospitable to it. Improve the drainage and compaction (double digging helps tremendously), increase fertility (add even more cured compost) while double digging, and raise the pH by adding lime in accordance with recommendations from a soil test (cured compost from some sources can also help bring soil into a more neutral pH).

@@greenthumbgardeningsecrets75 Thanks so much!

@@twelvesmylimit You're very welcome!

de nada

Glad it helps!! ❤️

Thank you, Gretchen! Glad it helps!! And you’re absolutely welcome!

The same as other squash.

@@greenthumbgardeningsecrets75 Thank you.

@@definitelyp8652 Absolutely!

You're very welcome! Same to you!

Thank you so much!! 😊 I hope you find it helpful. 🤗

Thanks, Beth! That’s certainly nice to hear! I’m in the mountains of North Carolina now but grew up in Wisconsin. Fee free to ask whatever questions you have, and I’ll help you out with whatever I can. You’re 100% welcome.

Also, my most recent video is specifically meant to answer the exact question of what to do next. It’s what I’ve noticed to be the biggest secrets used by the best green-thumbed gardeners everywhere and gives several options/ideas for meeting the six critical needs of your garden plants th-cam.com/video/eq5Sq6WwL1Y/w-d-xo.htmlsi=uTniRj7piN9Wwi2L)

Have you noticed any drop off for tomatoes, peppers, or the larger brassicas as it gets farther from when you last double dug the beds?

I also loved the inserts as examples ❤

Awesome! You're welcome! Thank you!

Hahaha, yeah, I bet you were and the plants loved it!

I'm so glad! Thank you for that comment!

You're welcome! So nice of you! Thank you!

Thank you! It’s great that you’ll use it. Your plants will love it! You don’t have to wait at all. You can add cured compost and further fluff the soil as you mix in the compost. Does that make sense and answer both of your questions?

You are VERY welcome!

@@greenthumbgardeningsecrets75 seriously this is the only video I have come across that actually demonstrates start to end how to do this, without unnecessary chatter, just pure information. Bless you!

@@pixelated23-b9z It’s so great to read a comment like that because that’s exactly why I made the whole series on soil building - just to show several very doable but very effective methods, so people can see how easy they are and pick the one that best suits them. I’m so glad to hear it’s useful to someone!

Easier, yes. Better? For lettuce and other plants that have relatively shallow root systems-at least at the point early in their life cycle when you harvest them-it's almost as good, sure. For those with deep root systems, "No Dig" isn't even close. For example, one tomato plant in the bed from the video produced over 41 pounds of fruit! (41.575 to be exact!) That same year, in beds right next to this double-dug bed, the best of the beds using "no dig" produced 5.5 pounds of tomatoes; the worst "no dig" bed produced only 2.16 pounds! That’s between 7.5 and 19.25 TIMES the production. For many that kind of increased production is worth the extra effort. For those for whom it's not, "no dig" is a fine method and certainly much easier, but there are other methods that are about as easy and get much better results than "no dig." Personally, I have no real dog in the seeming crusade "no dig" proponents seem to be on against any other method (see other comments below and on every other video I have of any other method other than "no dig"). I just want people to be able to garden if they desire to do so. Everyone is a little different in levels of interest and ability. I want them to know they have options between many very viable methods, so they can pick the one that best meets their needs. The best method is always context-dependent for plants being grown, people doing the work, and the native soil of the plot. One-size-fits-all ideas about gardening methods make no room for different plants and different people. I don't, for example, prep my spot for my asparagus the same way I prep my spot for my carrots, and I don't expect an 85 year with limited mobility to use the same bed preparation methods as a 21-year-old who's chomping at the bit to get the absolute greatest amount of production from a small plot. In this array of options, "no dig" has its place, but it is far from the best method out there for all people, all plants, and all places. Any regular experimentation will show this. Therefore, "no dig" is great for certain soils, shallower rooted plants, and people who want something easier and are willing to take a little loss of production from the deeper rooted plants like tomatoes, peppers, and the larger brassicas. In contrast, double digging is great for certain soils (compacted, clay, etc.), deeper-rooted plants, and those people who want to maximize their production in a smaller area. Finally, the "no dig" method currently promoted by Charles Dowding has its own roots. He didn't invent it. It's not a revolutionary practice taking the world by storm. It's a method that has been used by gardeners for centuries at least. Planting directly in cured compost placed directly on top of the ground is an old practice, going back at least to the French intensive gardeners of the 1500s if not earlier. It's a method passed on to me by my father when I was five years old. It works. For some, it might be one of their better options. For others, it's a method that will hamstring them.

😜 🤗 Thanks for the thumbs up. I appreciate your opinion, and I'm glad to hear you've had great results. The point is that you're gardening, right, and having enough success to keep doing it-and maybe even pass it on to the next generation. Every method has its pros and cons, right, and this one is no different. I discuss its pros, cons, and finer points in a separate video (th-cam.com/video/F7a9_sPNYJY/w-d-xo.html). I think one-size-fits-all ideas about gardening methods make no room for different plants and different people. I don't, for example, prep my spot for my asparagus the same way I prep my spot for my carrots, and I don't expect an 85 year with limited mobility to use the same bed preparation methods as a 21 year old who's chomping at the bit to get the absolute greatest amount of production from a small plot. That said, for accuracy, it's true that double digging can be back-breaking work, but it's also true that it does an incredible job of loosening soil and adding concentrated organic matter deeply and, by doing that, gets the best harvest results (I've tested all of the prominent methods next to each other for years) for deeper and wider rooted plants, namely tomatoes, peppers, and the larger brassicas--limiting the area done this way to a much smaller area than a whole garden. Plus, contrary to claims of losing the loosening with each rainfall, with a decent amount of organic matter added during loosening, the beds keep their super loose soil for almost a decade. With straw mulch (and others including using closely spaced plants and cover crops), it's even longer. I think the reasons it outperforms other methods, including Hugelkultur and similar sheet-composting/planting-directly-in-a-long-term-built-compost-pile methods, in all of our tests are fourfold: 1) It's concentrated organic matter instead of organic matter yet to be broken down to a form usable by garden plants. This is the main reason I personally like it better than Hugelkultur and those methods similar to it. Just like I wouldn't buy my laundry soap already diluted in the tens of gallons of water of a wash cylce-so I don't have to lug around the extra weight for no gain-when I'm adding organic matter to my soil, I want the concentrated, fully-functioning form not something that will a) take time to break down to a usable form for my plants and b) break down to a fraction of its current volume. 2) The organic matter is mixed in with the existing soil. Most soils have at least some available macro- and micro-nutrients. Many have a great store of them. Why not use them? Plus, it mixes the nutrients of the soil and subsoil with the nutrients of the added organic matter so both are readily available together in all of the planting bed for your plants roots and the microbes and mycorrhizal fungi who do much of the real work of transporting and making these continuously available for your plants. 3) The end result is a bed that, while raised a little bit above the ground, doesn't dry out as quickly as higher beds do. 4) It works well for all vegetable garden plants. Some plants-like squash and pumpkins-love the partial decayed organic matter of a working composting pile. Others do better in compost that is fully cured. Still, that said, one size does not fit all, like I said. I'm glad you're getting great succuess with Hugelkultur and that it has you fired up about it. May your gardens be plentiful and you always stay open to growing!

@@greenthumbgardeningsecrets75 You DO have a point. Thanks!

🤭

Those are all great points. It IS A LOT of work and would be especially exhausting due to disabilities. Trying it in a small area is a great idea, maybe only where you're planting tomatoes-or maybe also peppers and large brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower. Plus, you're totally right, not only do you not do it every day, but you also wouldn't likely do it every year. Over 25 years of using it and comparing it to many other methods each year, it has had the most profound impact on peppers, tomatoes, and large brassicas.

Excellent question. It absolutely works in red clay soils. In fact, it's probably your best option, giving you the ion- and water-holding benefits of clay with all of the numerous benefits of added organic matter and loosening soil. However, I'd only do it for larger brassicas, peppers, and tomatoes, since they're the plants that show the most marked increase in growth, production, and plant health-which makes sense since they all have such massive root systems. I have more detailed explanations on all of this on my website if you're curious.

And if it's too much work, or seems like it will be, especially at first in the hard clay, check out the following two videos for less intensive options to help get that clay loosened up, and then you can always double dig once you've done this for a few years: 1) th-cam.com/video/64ZtG10iZrc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=iCgmaHmEKI6ox9hH, 2) th-cam.com/video/ev6ryzsIcRg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=o9bMUqIk71L263Qd. The first one is spading/forking, which incorporates organic matter and loosens the soil a foot deep as opposed to the two feet deep of double digging. It's outstanding for most plants, and, even though, in general, in terms of soil loosening and adding organic matter, you get back in production in direct proportion to the (meaningful and well done) effort you put in, this is one way to get really good results (if slightly lessened than double digging) without nearly as much work. In short, it's MUCH easier with still really good results. The second highlights another hybrid option between double digging and spading/forking that incorporates organic matter and loosens the soil 16-18 inches deep with an 18" broadfork. Those that long can be hard to find today, but it's another fabulous option that has been tried and tested in Europe for centuries. In the video, the great gardening friend I interview explains how he struggled in clay just like yours (he's in Knoxville), which he describes as more like cement than soil, for years, only to have his plants explode in growth and health once he used this method. He's really blossomed into one hell of a gardener who now influences all of his gardening friends because of exactly this method switch.

Thanks for that comment!

Agreed on both counts!

This seems a winter activity to me.

@@cmbells7736 for real if the ground wasn't frozen that would have been smart of me

@@cmbells7736 Absolutely.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Good point!